Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-03-16
BOSTON. March l5,


All night force of laborers were engaged
in clearing up the debris of the wrecked cars
at the scene of the Tin Bridge disaster, near
R0slindale. Strewn along the southern en-
bankment are quantities of car seats ratings,
lreD braces, window panes and doors, which
had been gathered from the d, bris and which
were loaded upon fiat cars this morning and
brought to Boston. large force of police
men guard the scene.
The baggage car and one of the rear cars
of the train have been completely demol-
ished and all that marks the spot where these
two cars were at the base of the embankment
is heap of klnding wood. The wreck is a
more appalling sight than the recent ruins at
White River and Deerfcld. At the other
disasters fire entirely cleared up the debris.
Such was not the case at Roslindale, and no
doubt this was due largely to the presence OF
mind of the engineer in procuring assistance
at once.
There were undoubtedly nine cars in the
train as the tin tops of nine are to be found
about the ruins. Two ears are in such a
de moliton that it is almost impossible to dis
cern whether they were originally two cars
or one. This was caused by the fall down
the embankment and consequently the rumor
has prevailed that there were but eight cars
in the lraip. The ground and wrecksge in
several cases were covered with blood, and
tn, spot where Conductor Tilden lay is plain
Iv marked and indicated that he was upon
the platform and probably in the act of enter
ing another car.
Several of the stoves of the cars have been
removed, and in every case the iron rods
which served to hold them in position have
been found to be secnre, while not stove
door was burst open, although one tove was
badly broken.
At an early hour this morning there was
constant stream of visitors to the scene.
Everybody who visited the scene carried
away portions of the wreckage as momentos.
| At 10 O'Clock Railroad Commissioner kinsley
arrived on the scene and made a tour o. the
embank ments with view to investigating
| the casue of the accident.
Railroad commissioners this afternoon be-
gan an investigation into the causes of the
accident. On the Dedham branch OF the
| Boston & Providence railroad yeaterdav,
there were about dozen present among
whom were Supt. Folsom of the Providence
road, Mr.. George Putnam. counsel for the
road. and MIR. George f. williams who ap-
peared for certain of the injured. Five en-
blowers of the road including the superinten-
dent of bridges and Conductor Alden of the
wrecked train were sworn.
The first witness was w. A. Alden, one OF
the conductors of the train, who testified
that he lives at d, dham, ssand has been a con-
ductor on this branch since 1874. The train
was on time at Roslindale and when it
reached the bridge was going at rate of II
miles an hour, the regular rate. There were
nine cars on the train, eight coaches and
continuation The combination car was in
tho rear The forward cars were very well
fIed but the witness could not say about the
rear cars. In the two forward cars there
we're 80 or 90 passengers. Mr.. Tilden had
charge, of the three middle cars and Mr..
Drake of the three rear cars. The witness
was in the second car from the end at the
lime of the accident When asked te des-
cribe as nearly as possible the natnre of his
experience the witness said that would be I'M
nossible. The first thing he knew he was
s;,tinp right on the floor with the cushions of
the seats all around him. Then, the witness
said. | got into the next car behind the one
was in. The car that | went into was very
much wrecked. There was nobody there
when / went in. In reply to question by
Chairman Crocker, the witness said that he
never felt any peculiar motion of that bridge
in going over it had never felt any jar of
the train as it was leaving the bridge; had
never told any body that he did not like that
bridge. and never had any special anxiety IN
regard to that bridge.
Walter Z. White, engineer of the wrecked
train testified l was running IL to 10 miles
an hour at the time of the accident. When
struck on to the bridge everything seemed
10 be all right and strong with no swinging,